[nt650hawk]

This weekend was the 85 running of the Louden Classic. On Sunday Race 8 The pits clears with Mat Stone (Hawk #834), Bob Stone (Hawk #672), Scott Ferguson (Hawk #824), Michael Lemire “Doc” (Ducati #116), Brian Jeffery (KTM Motard #881), Ryan Hobbs (Ducati #266), and myself (Hawk #929). Before this I was pretty anxious. Not so much nervous. I had to keep to myself. I went over turns in my head simulating what I would do to possibly get around the competitors in turns. I'm getting that feeling right now....... Out on pre grid I bang fists with the guys around me and give thumbs up to every one I can not touch. They let us out for the warm up lap and I pull over to practice a start. It was not what I wanted but good nun the less. I just got that bad start out of my system. I pit out and I’m getting into the turns pretty good to hopefully get some good track temp into the tires.

On the grid. Flag drops. I get an ok start from the 2nd row and into T1 I am 3rd. Rock and Jurg are just in front of me. I kind of settle in behind them until T11. Jurg has a head of steam and I know what his plan is. He was going to take Rock on the outside of T11. "GO JURG" I think to myself. My plan was to go to the left of them and beat them both to T12. Well Rock floated a little wide to the right when Jurg was making the pass and the 2 were less than 6" apart. This spooked Rock and he turned to the left in a quick panic. Yup right where I was going. Now time to implement plan B. Squirt to the outside and beat Rock to the quick right hand flip into 12. I give the old girl a quick squirt and get the bike in front of Rock before the flip. Me and you Jurg. Me an you. He pulls away due to my tight line bending it around 12 and now I have to play catch up. As I come around T9, I’m throttling up on him. NO NOW, SET HIM UP COMING OUT OF 12. I hold off on the T11 pass and set myself up for the drive out of T12. PERFECT. I'm 2 bike lengths behind Jurg on the longest straight to catch his draft. I close a little as he has the motor on the Ducati 800. We approach the break markers. I know where he brakes and where I brake. He hits hs mak and i soot on by. As I hit my deeper mark I squeeze the breaks and heavily counter steer the left bar. Bam. Right on the apex and hit the whole T1-T1a-T2 perfect. There was no way he was going to motor on me out of T2. I never looked back for there for the win.

Last lap I notice Doc in front of me. I figured I would come on him coming out of T12. As we go into T11-T12 I end up thinking I'VE GOT TO SAY HI TO DOC. As I come under him (he left it wide open) I stick my leg out and look at him and say HI DOC, I'm coming thru.

[s a x m a n]

Nice run man! Great to watch you walk away with the race!!

You and the bike look very smooth out there!

[Pittenger5]

You forgot to mention that you were beating the competition so bad you managed to wave to the t1a viewing balcony. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAMN RACE. You fast sonofabitch.

[Doc]

It was almost like I came in second!


You coulda tucked in behind me and let me have my last lap! I just needed a lil more "fast"...

I thought "Oh Hi Gino, now I can try and follow you into 1 if i can stick on you down the straight... Checkers!!.. oh frick not the checkers!!!" It was really nice being there for your win!

(getting it back, three 1:26's in that race)

[nt650hawk]

Forgot to mention 1:17.6 and a 1:17.9. Not a 1:17.2. but I'm finding the 17's a bit more often on a 3 race weekend set of tires (15 sessions). They were slipping on some of the turns 1 but I liked it. T1 - T2 - T4 - T6 - T9-T11- T12 it was a nice feeling. I'm going to need a at least a new rear next race weekend.

[Pittenger5]

Originally Posted by nt650hawk

They were slipping on some of the turns 1 but I liked it.

And there is the difference between fast guys and me and Doc. Our tires slip once in 3 and we sprint to Stow with credit cards in hand to buy some new rubber. (Course it makes it a bit easier knowing Ill get a year out of a single set)

[Crash Dummy Denno]

congrats gino, there are a few guys I always root for every weekend and lucky for you, you're one of em!

you looked awesome coming into the bowl

keep it up - got any 16's in yah?

Denno

ps. its spelled LOUDON you tard

[Tricky Mike]

Way to go Gino!

[Doc]

Originally Posted by Pittenger5

And there is the difference between fast guys and me and Doc. Our tires slip once in 3 and we sprint to Stow with credit cards in hand to buy some new rubber. (Course it makes it a bit easier knowing Ill get a year out of a single set)

Very true. It fixed the problem and while I was over near zip tie alley I stole some of my fast back.


I also think I had a lil liquid leaking on my tires... fixed that too!


Way to be GINO!!! 16's in the cards for this year!!

[Ken C]

[nt650hawk]

Originally Posted by Crash Dummy Denno

ps. its spelled LOUDON you tard

South shore accent. See you knew what I meant.

I fix it for you, professor.

[Crash Dummy Denno]

Originally Posted by nt650hawk

South shore accent. See you knew what I meant.

I fix it for you, professor.

[BMFR6]

thats crazy gino. well done. are 16's actually feasable??? that would be intense

[l3uddha]

gino i saw u from the turn 6 bleachers and you were looking great.

[hammadown]

Its embarrassing, to me at least, how fast you go on a 20 year old bike. : Nice work out there man, 1A representing!!

[Crash Dummy Denno]

Originally Posted by hammadown

Its embarrassing, to me at least, how fast you go on a 20 year old bike. : Nice work out there man, 1A representing!!

speaking of which, how long until you can stay for vintage racing on mondays?

[Doc]

Technically the Hawk is eligible for Vintage now.

[nt650hawk]

Originally Posted by Doc

Technically the Hawk is eligible for Vintage now.

Technically I would also have to put a lot of $ into the old girl to meet their rules. I would have to buy all kinds of stock equipment to slow her down.

[Doc]

Very true... but you COULD use your new streetbike.

[a13x]

I already told you this, but you da man!

[ceo012384]

Damn Gino... you're consistent and fast. Congrats!

[GMAN226]

wish I was there sounds like we would have had some good battles. Is my pole posuition still open???

[smf]

Originally Posted by BMFR6

thats crazy gino. well done. are 16's actually feasable??? that would be intense

those 'in the know' are betting on 15's actually. he's got a few unused tricks up his sleeve

[nt650hawk]

G-Man. Unfortunately they filled it with Bill Omerod running 1:28.349. I don't know why. He’s a great guy, just not a pole sitter. He has not been around all year. You earned that place. It should have been left in remembrance of the Great G-Man.


I'm missing you out there. I would be leaning a lot from you in the back seat position. I doubt I would be near you though.


How’s the healing going? You coming back?

[brewmaster]

Gino great job. You definitely give that hawk wings. I can only dream of riding like that at this point.

Gman! Good to hear from you. Heal quickly, we miss you up at the track.

Cheers, Steve